Ayurveda therapies, remedies, and treatments for preventing and reversing type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The treatment recommended in Ayurveda – vs. modern medicine – is aimed at rejuvenating the body to not only balance sugar levels but also ensuring that no further complication is caused.

What is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes
Mellitus or Type 2 Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder in which blood sugar levels remain high for extended
periods of time. This may be due to either the lack of the hormone “Insulin” or
the inability of cells to properly utilize circulating insulin. In this chronic
disease, there is an inability to gain energy from food, due to the lack of
glucose absorption. Many serious complications can occur if left untreated. Fortunately, diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes can make a positive difference.

How does Ayurveda view Diabetes?

Ayurveda does
not regard diabetes as a disease that can be treated by mere medicine or by a
dietary regimen. Madhumeha is classified as a Maha Rog (Major Disease) because if not treated in time, can lead to several complications in the body including
eye problems, joint pains, impotence, kidney failure, sexual and urologic
problems, and more.

The disease
diabetes mellitus (DM) is as such not mentioned In Ayurvedic text, but the
signs of this disease 'Madhumeha' is one of the many kinds of Prameha
roga, resembling the symptoms of diabetes type 2. According to Ayurvedic texts, the main symptom of Prameha is 'Prabhutavila Murata' - which is excessive
and filthy urination. The two kinds of Prameha / Madhumeha (specifically Sahaja
and Apathya-nimittaj) can be contrasted with insulin-dependent (juvenile-onset)
and insulin-independent (maturity onset) diabetes mellitus respectively. When Madhumeha happens as a primary disease (Avrit Vatajanya), it's comparable
with the juvenile-onset of diabetes mellitus.

It is
therefore not surprising that as diabetes is a metabolic disorder, it cannot be
merely treated by controlling sugar levels.

What causes diabetes?

According to
Ayurvedic text, Meda (Adiposity) is primary Contributory factors in the
development and onset of Prameha / Madhumeha and this disorder mainly affects
the Ojas (Immune status) of the body. The traditional system of medicine has
also described central adiposity (fat from the midsection or around the stomach
and abdomen) as the major cause of Diabetes Mellitus especially type 2 DM.
Classical Ayurvedic texts have described sedentary lifestyles and faulty
dietary habits in its own words as the significant cause of Madhumeha. These
texts have clarified various causes of Madhumeha as excessive usage of yogurt
or curd (milk products), flesh and fatty products together with sleeping and
sitting for hours together on soft and comfy mattresses that indicates
sedentary lifestyles according to the modern scenario that's major contributory
element in the pathogenesis and toxic complications of diabetes.

Ayurvedic view of diabetes symptoms

The main symptom to
diagnose Madhumeha is excessive and filthy urination. Along with this Acharya
Caraka has clarified a few prodromal symptoms that help to diagnose Prameha /
Madhumeha. They're laziness, foul odor from body, a build-up of ear wax, coated
tongue, pelvic area fat deposition, hair and nail thickening, sweetness
sensation, burning sensations in hand and feet, and dry throat.

How does Ayurveda prevent or reverse Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and can cause tissue damage. So even if the blood sugar levels are
kept under control with medicines, it can damage eyes, kidneys or other vital
organs later on. The treatment recommended in Ayurveda – as against modern
medicine – is aimed at rejuvenating the body to not only balance sugar levels,
but also ensuring that no further complication is caused.

The treatment
of any illness including Prameha / Madhumeha, aims at restoring the balance of
doshas and the normal function of Dhatu. If Doshas marginally increase,
restriction of diet combined with increased activity is adequate as a curative
measure. If the doshas are reasonably increased, one should administer drugs to
neutralize the doshas

Diet
restrictions and exercise: If The Doshas
are markedly improved, aside from dietetic limitation, exercise and
medications, an individual needs to also advise Panchakarma i.e. emetics,
purgatives, etc. so that the increased Doshas are removed from the body.
According to Ayurvedic parlance, the sufferers of Prameha / Madhumeha are of two
kinds - Sthula (obese) and Krisha (lean). From the perspective of management,
Sthula Pramehi is given Shodhana (purification method) therapy, while the
Krisha pramehi has to be awarded Brimhana (nourishment ) treatment to supply
his strength.

Precautions and Risks

Ayurvedic therapies
must only be administered by qualified Ayurvedic practitioners. There are
certain medications (Rasaushadhi) with heavy metals. That ought to be
prescribed only after assessing renal and circulatory functions in a diabetic patient.
So before prescribing such medication, the practitioner should thoroughly
examine the individual in every aspect. If the expert is prescribing such
medication after thorough evaluation, no major or hazardous side effect is
noticed.

In order for a
diabetic patient to stop hazardous complications of Diabetes, he or she should follow
dietary restriction as described in Ayurveda in addition to in the modern
medication as an integrative form of therapy. Together with dietary restriction
one should take medications whatever he needs according to the glycemic status under
the supervision of medical professionals.

Ayurvedic Diet for Managing Diabetes

Ayurveda
identifies many spices and herbs which can be used in the treatment of
diabetes. We're beginning to recognize some of the beneficial actions of those
organic medicinals from a scientific standpoint. There are now over 1,200
species of plants which have known glucose-lowering consequences.

Gymnema
Sylvestre

This plant
has been used in the treatment of diabetes for at least 2,000 years. It's a
woody, climbing vine common in southern and central India. There has been
extensive research on Gymnema Sylvestre in studies with animals, and it's been
proven to stimulate insulin secretion, increase the effects of circulating
insulin, and reduce blood glucose levels. It has also been demonstrated to have
a protective effect on the pancreas, that's the organ that produces and
secretes insulin.

Commonly
called fenugreek, this herb is cultivated throughout the world for a spice. Fenugreek
seeds have high fiber content, and lots of elements of the seed have been
identified as having immediate glucose-lowering consequences. Studies have
demonstrated that daily use of fenugreek seeds may reduce insulin resistance
and improve blood glucose control.

Cinnamon

This buttery
spice has received much attention lately as a sugar-lowering material. Cinnamon
has been shown to enhance the body's ability to use insulin in numerous ways.
It stimulates insulin receptors on the cells, in addition to acting directly on
our DNA to "turn off" genes that are responsible for deactivating
insulin receptors on our cells. These actions make it a lot easier for cells to
take up glucose, thus reducing glucose levels.

Turmeric

This popular
Indian spice has a long history of use as an anti-inflammatory, and on account
of the connection between diabetes and inflammation, has been studied in the
prevention and treatment for diabetes. Current research reveals no substantial
side effects of using turmeric and supports utilizing this spice to match other
treatments for diabetes.

Beneficial
Foods

Several foods
are also used traditionally as a cure for diabetes and have been shown to
reduce blood glucose levels. Bitter gourd, or karela, is widely utilized in the
treatment of diabetes in several traditional healing systems. Used as a food in
the Indian diet, there are no reported toxicities.

Start doing
some light exercise, such as brisk walking. Build up to a brisk walk of 30-40
minutes in the morning and again in the evening.

Avoid
sleeping in the daytime as it increases Kledaka Kapha.

Additionally,
both yoga and meditation have been proven to decrease stress, which plays a
considerable role in the development and control of diabetes. Chronic stress
may result in insulin resistance, which in turn increases blood glucose levels.
With regular yoga or meditation, stress hormones within our bodies decrease, leading
to better blood glucose control.

Proper
diet and lifestyle decisions help in balancing blood sugar and the result of
treatment shows quickly. It also prevents or decreases the risk of
complications.

Ayurvedic
Home Remedies

Dry the
leaves of the mango tree and grind to a powder. Mix 1 teaspoon dry powder in a glass of water and drink it daily to reduce high blood sugar levels.

Take 2
teaspoons of bitter gourd (karela) juice once a day. One can also increase its
use as a cooked vegetable.

Take a teaspoon of Indian gooseberry (amla) juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of bitter
gourd juice twice a day.

Research of Ayurveda in Diabetes Prevention

In a study
done in 2011, researchers examined seven clinical trials that included 354
participants (172 on treatment, 158 on control, 24 could not be classified). The
results found positive effects in certain research, and lack of severe unwanted
effects, but firm conclusions could not be drawn as a result of weak approaches
and a small number of participants at the appraised studies. Additional study is
necessary to estimate the effectiveness of those remedies. Ayurvedic physicians
normally use a mix of different proprietary or herbal preparations together
with diet, and manner of living. The remedies are often individualized
taking into consideration the equilibrium of three 'doshas'. It's likely that
the interventions at the trials analyzed haven't replicated real Ayurvedic
practice but merely assessed some elements individually.[2]

In another
2001 systematic analysis study, researchers found that there's evidence to
indicate that the single herbs Coccinia indica, sacred basil, fenugreek, and
Gymnema Sylvestre and the herbal formulas Ayush-82 and D-400 have a
glucose-lowering effect and deserve additional study. Proof of the effectiveness of
several different herbs is less extensive (C. Tamala, Eugenia jambolana, and
Momordica charantia).[3]

Several
studies have also been done lately in India a country with high prevalence of
Diabetes 2. One of the trials done included 157 male prisoners with newly
diagnosed, high fasting blood sugar (FBS). Group interventions: (1) Rasahara and
Yoga, (2) Yoga, (3) no intervention. A significant decrease in fasting blood
sugar was observed.

In addition,
several studies on the efficacy of herbal formulations have been undertaken
such as measuring the effectiveness of extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens in the
management of diabetes 2. A recent study analyzed traditional vegetarian
thali meal served and its effectiveness in the prevention of diabetes 2 and
other chronic medical conditions.

To revalidate
the true efficacy of the formulas in DM (~Madhumeha); many studies are
completed at different research centres of India. These studies aimed at
establishing the effect of various Ayurvedic therapy modalities viz. Shodhana
(purification/cleansing processes ) and Shamana (pacifying medicinal therapy )
etc., in DM. These treatments were found to improve quality of life,
significantly effective and clinically safe as no adverse drug reactions were
reported during the treatment period.[5]

There is
considerable debate on the research methodology used for Ayurveda in general. Regular
double-blind randomized controlled trials aren't often used for Ayurvedic
remedies because the multi-faceted method of diabetes control isn't accessible
to trials that analyze one element of an individualized treatment plan.
Research methods in research of Ayurveda nevertheless rely on a black-box
layout --ie, given as they are in the typical clinical atmosphere.[4]

Case Studies

Member Stories

Outcomes Summary

86% success(112)

Very PoorPoorFairGoodVery Good

Research therapy options reviewed by experts, researchers and other patients. See what people thought about their experience and outcomes. Read their stories and therapy ideas.
Do you have a personal story to share about what worked for your condition?
Share your journey so others can heal.